Red Carpet Riot by David Van Etten

It’s award night—will Mallory make it down the red carpet?
When we last left Mallory, her first show had just aired to rave ratings; her conniving mother was engaged to her dreaded producer boyfriend, Richard; she wasn’t sure if her boyfriend, Keith, would stick by her; and the school secretary had some unwelcome news about her student status. Now, just when her show gets a Daytime Emmy nomination, she’s got to fend off sneaky saboteurs, decide between Keith and Dallas, her show’s hunky star, break off her mother’s engagement, and pass gym class! Hang on for a wild ride that takes us to the end of Mallory’s story, and maybe her rope, as the Emmy Awards inch closer and closer and she’s got to do-sido as fast as she can to keep up.

Red Carpet Riot was the last of a three-book series, that I loved. This generally means that the book was working on winding down and closing the series *something I didn’t want to happen*. Red Carpet Riot was good, it wasn’t my favorite… but I liked it. I think that though it’s the last book in a series, it leaves room for another book *this should really happen*. Not in my life have I read such an interesting books about a teen soap opera writer. The main character tries to make what she is writing not a general soap opera and everything goes wacky making it the dramatic spontaneous anything-can-happen soap opera she didn’t want. When reading this, I realized that her life is a soap opera too.
This was a fun book to read and I loved it. I recommend you read the series!


FTC- I bought this book.

An Interview with Chris Van Etten

I recently got the chance to ask Chris Van Etten some questions about the series he co-wrote with David Levithan and David Ozanich.

1. What was it writing with David Levithan and David Ozanich?

Heartstopping. David Levithan has an awe-inspiring imagination and a magic touch where characters are concerned (Don't you want them to be your friends?). He's also a gentle taskmaster. Despite my inexperience and sheer terror at writing a book, he was able to provide easy guidance and quell my fears.

David Ozanich and I go way back. I hired him (years ago) as an intern at One Life To Live and we became fast friends. The germ for Likely Story began there between the two of us. David O. and I have similar sensibilities that make our working together a dream.

I was mostly nervous that my effort would never measure up to books one and two. But with their support I muddled through and am ultimately pleased with the result that is Red Carpet Riot.

Specifically about my experience with the process: I was very lucky in some respects to land the task of writing book number three in the series. A lot of the work had already been done for me by the two Davids, as they're written the first two books. They had developed a cast of rich, fully realized characters from which I could draw at will and already set up the story for the conclusion in book three. All I had to do was resolve the conflicts they'd already set in motion - or, in one or two cases, nearly resolve them.

The two Davids had the harder jobs. David Levithan had to start the story from scratch, or from an outline the three of us had constructed. David Ozanich had to move the story along but because the books were designed as a trilogy, could not move the story along too far. Basically, he had to tread water. Of the three of us, I probably had the easiest job.


2. Do you plan on writing any more books?

I wouldn't say I "plan" on writing more books. I'm kicking around a couple of ideas, sure. Will they become books? Maybe. I think about it often. As hard as it was to write RCR, I loved the process and I love Mallory. If I luck upon the right character and the right story, definitely. So we'll see. Was that a vague enough answer for you?

3. Will there be more books in the Likely Story series?

There are currently no plans for further installments in the Likely Story series. However, we're quite open to it, and there's certainly more story out there for Mallory and her cohort (you didn't think Mallory's mother would give her a simple answer at the end of RCR, did you? There's more where that came from...). The door is open. I suppose it's up to the readers and Knopf to invite us to come in.

All That Glitters by David Van Etten

ALL THAT GLITTERS is definitely not gold as Mallory struggles to control the runaway train that is her brand-new soap opera. At the end of Likely Story, Mallory had just learned that her TV show was greenlit, but that her mother, and arch enemy, was being brought in to play one of the main characters. Now, as production gears up for the broadcast premier, Mallory finds herself fighting off take-over attempts (by her mother), trying to keep unhappy teen-star Dallas under control (if they won’t let him quit, he’ll do whatever it takes to get fired), and just trying to keep her head above water, both on the set and in high school. She’s ready to walk away from all of it, just to have a “normal” teenager’s life, but how can you walk away from something that won’t let you leave?


Oh my Soap Opera, this was awesome! All That Glitters is the second book in a series by David Levithan, Chris Van Etten, and David Ozanich. I’ve had the lovely opportunity to either meet or email all of these authors, and just by doing that, I knew I was going to love this series. All That Glitters wasn’t my favorite of the three books because it is kind of setting up everything for the third and final book. That being said, I still loved it. These books are the first and only books that I’ve read about a soap opera. I am not that big of a fan of soap opera’s because of all the drama, but after reading this I heavily considered taking up watching one. David, Chris, and David are all amazing writers. As far as my knowledge serves me, Chris Van Etten and David Ozanich haven’t written any other published young adult books and I really think they should. The characters in the Likely Story series are interesting and true to many teenagers today *except for the writing a soap opera part*.
I really enjoyed reading All That Glitters, and I strongly encourage you to read the series!

FTC- I bought this book.

48-Hour Read-a-Thon

So, because it is 6am where I am... I am awake with nothing to do. When this happens, I usually go internet surfing. On my internet travels this morning, I found out about the 48-hour read-a-thon that's going on.
Since today is also the official first day of my summer vacation, I have decided to participate in this read-a-thon. You can find where to sign up here.

Just wanted to stop by and let you all know of the read-a-thon!

Deception by Lee Nichols

When Emma Vaile's parents leave on mysterious business trip, it gives her the perfect excuse to be a rebellious teen. Throw some parties, get a tattoo (or maybe just a piercing), and enjoy the first few weeks of her junior year. Then her best friend stops talking to her, the cops crash her party, and Emma finds herself in the hands of a new guardian—her college-age "knight in J.Crew armor," Bennett Stern—and on a plane to his museum-like mansion in New England. After enrolling at Thatcher Academy, Emma settles in by making friends with the popular legacy crowd. But she can't shake the strange visions that are haunting her. She has memories of Thatcher she can't explain, as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Emma doesn't trust anyone anymore—except maybe Bennett. But he's about to reveal a ghostly secret to Emma. One that will explain the visions . . . and make Emma fear for her life.


Deception is one of those books that make you want to read paranormal books, because it has convinced you that paranormal books *like itself, are amazing*. I couldn’t stop reading. Deception was a nail-biting first start to a series that made me want the second book. Lee Nichols really knows how to write and I am looking forward to reading the second Haunting Emma novel. The characters were written really well and there was even a three-way romance that made my heart melt *at times*. I recommend this book to people who don’t normally like paranormal.



FTC- I received this book from the publisher.

Giveaway- Deception by Lee Nichols

Someone has a chance to win a copy of Deception by Lee Nichols. This book was incredible!


When Emma Vaile's parents leave on mysterious business trip, it gives her the perfect excuse to be a rebellious teen. Throw some parties, get a tattoo (or maybe just a piercing), and enjoy the first few weeks of her junior year. Then her best friend stops talking to her, the cops crash her party, and Emma finds herself in the hands of a new guardian—her college-age "knight in J.Crew armor," Bennett Stern—and on a plane to his museum-like mansion in New England. After enrolling at Thatcher Academy, Emma settles in by making friends with the popular legacy crowd. But she can't shake the strange visions that are haunting her. She has memories of Thatcher she can't explain, as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Emma doesn't trust anyone anymore—except maybe Bennett. But he's about to reveal a ghostly secret to Emma. One that will explain the visions . . . and make Emma fear for her life.

Winners of Shade by Jeri Smith Ready

There are 5 people winning Shade! And, here they are:


ERICA


MARIAN


LAURIE T.


APRIL (books and wine)


ALEX (Tales of a Teenage Book Lover)

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris-- the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead. Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax-- but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they've worked for.

Jackson Pearce wrote a wonderful new version of Little Red Riding Hood. It had a really interesting spin on it, which I enjoyed. I didn’t like, however, how it switched point of views between sisters. I understand that it was important to the book and the way the story was structured. My problem with books that switch point of views is that I always find myself looking forward to only one of the characters narrations*, this was case with Sisters Red.
I liked this book because there was good action. It kept me wanting to read, and made me want to read Jackson’s other book. Though I am a slight werewolf fan, I liked how the sisters hunted werewolves. Jackson Pearce wrote a interesting story that many will enjoy.
--- The cover is also pretty awesome looking!

* Though, one of the books that I’m currently writing is from two points of view.

FTC- Borrowed from an indie bookshop.